The Ultimate Guide to The Best Brad Nailers on the Market

A Brad Nailer or a nail gun can fire a nail out of the nose at a rate of 1,400 feet per second. That is equal to 954 miles per hour.

This means that brad nailers can save you a ton of time when it comes to your next project. The question is though, how do you know which nailer is best for your project?

Which brad nailer you buy depends on how much you intend to use it and the type of nails you intend to use. Use this guide to help you get started in comparing some of the best brad nailers.

Features You Need in Brad Nailers

When shopping for a brad nailer there are a few features that you need to compare. These include the nose design, tool-free jam release, depth adjustment, and anti-dry fire.

Tool or Kit?

Do you need just the tool or an entire kit? Most kits these days come with a battery and a charger.

If you already own other tools by the manufacturer then you can save money by buying the bare tool and using the battery you have at home.

Weighty Issues

Think about installing molding above your head around the room. Would you rather hold your arm above your head while holding 4 pounds or 8 pounds?

It may not seem like a big deal in the beginning, but by the end of your project, your arm will be dead.

The Tip Matters

The first thing is that you want a clear view of the gun tip so that you can aim your nails accurately. Second, you want a tip that won’t mark up your trim.

Anti Dry-Fire Lock

This is a lock that stops the nailer from firing once the magazine runs out of nails. Otherwise, you’ll continue to go along “nailing” with nothing happening. That’s a frustrating waste of time.

Battery or Corded

You need to decide if you want a cordless battery powered nailer or a corded compressor powered nailer. Think about the amount of use you plan to put your nailer through.

The battery might be perfect for smaller projects. While the corded may be more appropriate for those who intended heavy use. Though with the heavier use you might see a difference on your electric bill.

Safety Features

Let’s face it, nailers can be dangerous. You are going to rapid fire a metal projectile. Even with professional training, accidents happen and people get injured.

You can mitigate the risk by looking for a nailer with some safety features. A common one is a lock that prevents the nailer from firing.

DEWALT DC618K XRP Angled Finish Brad Nailer Kit

DeWalt is one of those brands that those who know tools trust. This pneumatic nailer is not different. Its heavy-duty design gives you a 20 degree angled finish nailing.

It can fire 16 gauge nails that are 1-1/4 to 2.5 inches long. It will fire these nails at a dizzying 5 nails per second.

Brad Nailer Dewalt DC618k

Other features DeWalt included are a no-mar tip, safety lock to disable the trigger, and a swing open nosepiece to clear jams.

Pros

This nailer has the largest capacity at 120 nails. This means you’ll have to stop less often to refill the magazine.

There is also a dial that lets you quickly adjust the depth setting. By having a quick adjust you can move from one project to the next with ease.

Cons

This nailer does have less portability than other nailers. This is due to the weight as it is an 8.5-pound tool. Check out this video on this awesome Brad Nailer.

If you are looking for a complete nailing kit than Freeman has the kit for you. This combo nail gun kit comes with a set of 4. You get a framing nailer, brad nailer, finish nailer, and a narrow crown stapler.

There is also a strong canvas bag that will hold the entire kit in one neat place.

Each nailer has magazines made of anodized aluminum. This gives the tools more durability.

Pros

By buying this kit you will have the right tool for the job, any job, that requires nailing. This means you can tackle any project without having to buy another nailer.

You get the quality and durability that Freeman is known for. This means you have professional contractor quality tools for your home DIY project.

Cons

If you only need one tool, this kit could be considered expensive and overkill.

WEN 61720 Brad Nailer

Brad Nailer Wen 61721

This 18 gauge nailer will help you get through your job with ease. A power of 60 to 100 PSI can successfully plant 3/4 to 2 inch nails.

The magazine will hold 100 brads. There is also a quick release design so that it won’t jam. You will also get a complete care kit with your nailer.

The kit includes wrenches for adjustments, oil, and a storage case. Wen also provides a 1 year warranty to all of their products.

Pros

This is one of the most affordable brad nailer options at about $45 on Amazon. The aluminum body helps keep the nailer light at 3 pounds.

Cons

The tip of this nailer will leave marks on your trim, so be careful when working with delicate trim. It also is missing an anti-fire lock, so if you run out of nails you won’t know it. It will just keep firing which will cause damage to it.

﻿﻿﻿

Porter-Cable PCC790LA Cordless Brad Nailer Kit

Brad Nailer Porter PCC790LA

This handheld brad nailer is battery powered, meaning it doesn’t need a hose, compressor, or gas to run. The battery is strong enough to power 1,300 nail firings before you need to recharge.

The magazine can hold up to 100 nails at a time. The nails used will be 18 gauge.

Porter-Cable designed this nailer to be tool free. The stall release lever, jam release, and depth adjustment all function without the use of tools.

Not sure on your depth? Use the depth adjustment window. There are also multifunctional LED lights to make operation even easier.

Pros

One of the biggest advantages of this nailer is that it is one of the lightest in its class at just 5.9 pounds. It has also been balanced to have the optimal center of gravity. This makes long-term use as stress-free as possible on your arm.

Cons

The repetitive firing of this nailer is slower than other nailers. It isn’t super slow, but if you are working you may not want that delay throughout your project.

﻿﻿

Buy Your Brad Nailer

When comparing brad nailers you need to think about your intended use. This will help you know what type of nailer you need.

Think about the different features that we explained as important. Then decide how important they are to you.

Remember that what one person thinks is great may be terrible for you as it isn’t the right nailer for the job. You also need to think about your volume of use and your budget as these two factors will influence your choice.

A Solar energy professional with ten years of marketing and installation experience. Avid and passionate about the adoption of solar and related technologies in all homes. Blogs about all things solar and sustainable at MySolarHome.us.

MOST POPULAR POSTS

MySolarHome.us provides unbiased reviews on products and services to make your home sustainable.
MySolarHome.us is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
MySolarHome.us is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.it and Amazon.es